Sojourners - Popular Culturehttp://www.sojo.net/taxonomy/term/997/0
enBread and Circushttp://www.sojo.net/blogs/2012/08/03/bread-and-circus
<p>Near the turn of the 2nd century A.D., the poet Juvenal published a collection of verses titled <i>Satires</i>.&nbsp; Among other things, the text was intended to spark discussion about social norms at a time when the masses were increasingly withdrawn from civil engagement.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>In specifics, Juvenal wrote: &nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><i>…everything now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.</i></p></blockquote><p>According to Juvenal, the public of his day and age was growing less concerned about social responsibility due to personal pursuits of bread (comfort) and circus (entertainment). In addition, he believed political leaders used the distribution of comfort and entertainment as a way to sedate the population, distract them, and open opportunities for systemic manipulation.&nbsp;</p><p>Juvenal believed far too many citizens were far too willing to cooperate in their own exploitation.<br><br> What I find incredibly intriguing — and disconcerting — about Juvenal’s observations is that, numerous generations later, it can be argued that much of what he considered to be problematic in his era can now be found in North America.</p><p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/blogs/2012/08/03/bread-and-circus" target="_blank">read more</a></p>bread and circusChristiansenjoymententertainmentGod's PoliticsPopular CultureSocial JusticeFaith and SpiritualityLife and PeaceFri, 03 Aug 2012 15:42:48 +0000Brian E. Konkol40472 at http://www.sojo.netTop 10 Reasons Why Christians Like Top 10 Lists about Christianshttp://www.sojo.net/blogs/2012/07/19/top-10-reasons-why-christians-top-10-lists-about-christians
<p>No, this is not some new Charlie Kauffman movie that folds in on itself, creating a perpetual feedback loop. I’m serious; Christians love Top 10 Lists.<br><br> No wonder Moses did only 10 commandments.<br><br> I noticed this recently when all of the top three most popular articles on the <em>Sojo.net</em> at the time were lists of this kind. So I went back and did a search of my own personal blog archive. Every one of the most popular pieces started with “10 Reasons,” or “Seven Things” or the like.<br><br> Are Christians obsessed with lists? What’s the deal?<br><br> I talked to a publisher years ago who told me that the key to a successful theology book was to include something akin to “six easy steps” in the title. I never took them up on that advice, but he knew what he was talking about. So after expending a little grey matter on the issue, I came up with this list of reasons why I think Christians love these kinds of lists:<br><br> <strong>#1. </strong>We don’t want to have to think too hard: Now, before you fire up your keyboard and rattle off a protest email, this is a broader truism across our entire culture....</p><p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/blogs/2012/07/19/top-10-reasons-why-christians-top-10-lists-about-christians" target="_blank">read more</a></p>bloggingChristianityGod's PoliticsPopular CultureTen CommandmentsFaith and SpiritualityLife and PeaceThu, 19 Jul 2012 15:00:02 +0000Christian Piatt40044 at http://www.sojo.netCulture War Cease-Firehttp://www.sojo.net/magazine/2010/03/culture-war-cease-fire
<p>There&#39;s evidence that popular cinema is taking real life seriously.</p><p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2010/03/culture-war-cease-fire" target="_blank">read more</a></p>ArtFilmPopular CultureCultureLife and PeaceOn FilmCulture WatchMon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000Gareth Higgins20378 at http://www.sojo.netGod: http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/09/god
"From the time of Moses' stone tablets, man [sic] has searched for a better way to store, study, and share God's work," preaches the press release for the newly released GoBible.<p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/09/god" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Between the LinesPopular CultureTechnologyDepartmentsSat, 01 Sep 2007 14:00:00 +0000Rose Marie Berger19644 at http://www.sojo.netReal Product: Freedom Ale!http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/08/real-product-freedom-ale
Freedom Ale!<p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/08/real-product-freedom-ale" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Between the LinesFair TradePopular CultureDepartmentsWed, 01 Aug 2007 14:00:00 +0000Rose Marie Berger19610 at http://www.sojo.netPower Punchhttp://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/07/power-punch
Finally, researchers have harnessed the fruit of the spirit into a new kind of energy drink!<p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/07/power-punch" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Between the LinesFoodPopular CultureReligionDepartmentsSun, 01 Jul 2007 14:00:00 +0000Rose Marie Berger19579 at http://www.sojo.netTortured Logichttp://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/tortured-logic
Do shows like <i>24</i> help make torture acceptable?<p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/tortured-logic" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Consistent Life EthicPopular CultureTortureLife and PeaceCommentaryFri, 01 Jun 2007 14:00:00 +0000Jesse Holcomb19526 at http://www.sojo.netReal Product: Sweet Salvationhttp://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/real-product-sweet-salvation
Struggling to explain God's ways to your Sunday school class? Nothing says "atonement" like sugar tinted with Red Dye No. 3.<p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/real-product-sweet-salvation" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Between the LinesChristianityPopular CultureDepartmentsFri, 01 Jun 2007 14:00:00 +0000Rose Marie Berger19534 at http://www.sojo.netFashion Conscioushttp://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/fashion-conscious
Clothing the world with justice. <p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/fashion-conscious" target="_blank">read more</a></p>ConsumerismJusticePopular CultureCulture WatchFri, 01 Jun 2007 14:00:00 +0000Molly Marsh19556 at http://www.sojo.netPop Culture Christianityhttp://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/pop-culture-christianity
<P>Since the box-office success of Mel Gibson's <I>The Passion of the Christ</I>, there's been a lot of hoopla about the big, previously neglected "Christian audience" (and how to cash in on it).<p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/magazine/2007/06/pop-culture-christianity" target="_blank">read more</a></p>ChristianityPopular CultureReviewsCulture WatchFri, 01 Jun 2007 14:00:00 +0000Laurel Rae Mathewson19559 at http://www.sojo.net